Canisters and canisters

I've been working on large canisters for the last few weeks.  These were thrown several weeks ago.  I threw the lids upside down and then trim and turn right side up to add the looped handles.  Some jars got little looped handles on the sides as well.

This is a 6-7 cup capacity jar.

This one will hold 4 cups

This will hold 5 cups

I've been getting a work out throwing 4 lbs of clay at a time to do these large jars.  I usually throw in the 1-2 lb range but it's nice to stretch myself as an artist to see if I can do it.  I love to make jars of all sizes.  They are so handy to have around and beautiful, too.  Dress up the kitchen or bathroom with practical storage.

Finished pieces

This sun and moon face turned out great.  Gold glazed features and rust patina are on the sun and gold glazed and gun metal green and copper patina on the moon.

I love the way this silverware caddy came out.  Three tubes are attached together and the oxide stain rubbed into the impressions is a matte brown.

I love doing these honey jars with the bees and letters.  The letters have an oxide stain rubbed into them and wiped off leaving unglazed letters with brown stain.

I really am still here!

I've been neglecting my blog for waaayy too long.  Somehow life just seems to get in the way!  I've been pretty busy in my shop making things.  I never remember to take pictures but did this time. 

This is hand built project of a 3 tube utensil holder/organizer.  I had one in my Etsy shop and it sold so naturally that means I have make another one!  This will have to dry about 2 weeks before it goes in the kiln the first time.  But it's warm here now so drying shouldn't be a problem.  Actually, I will leave it covered for a few days to keep it from drying too fast which can lead to cracking.

3 slabs were rolled out with the slab roller and wrapped around the cardboard tubes that my rolls of bubble wrap come on.  They are the perfect size.  And I hate to throw them away.  

This is the next day with the tubes removed.

This shows the stamped designs and the bottom added.  All one piece for the bottom and that ties the tubes together.

Big sunflower sculpture and 2 flower horn sconces

This is a crescent moon face with sleeping sun face

Various jars, ring holders, bowls

Soap pumps and bowls

This was today's work.  These will be honey jars, garlic keepers and a soap pump on the left

Garlic keeper and lid and a spinning bowl(right side).  This will all be trimmed tomorrow morning.

 I hope to be back posting more this year.  Sometimes it feels like there are just too many options for on line presence.  Do I post to facebook, flicker, twitter?  I don't want to be obnoxious.  But I'll try to post when something is interesting.  And, hopefully, I'll get the finished pieces posted here so you can see how they turned out.

Elephant ears that live forever

This elephant ear that was a star in my last post, became something permanent.  I cut leaves, removing the stem and pressed them into my stoneware clay.  I used the largest leaves for the platter and smaller leaves for the plates.  I used hosta leaves for the smaller sauce dishes.  I actually have had the pieces made since back in the summer but have just gotten around to glazing and photographing.  I think it turned out great.  The glaze color reminds me of the natural color.  Greenish blue with darker accents.

I may try the suggestion of doing some concrete stepping stones maybe next year.

And even if you're not into sushi, the set can be used for all kinds of serving.

I think I need a bigger house so I can keep more of my own work.  I would love to keep this set but just don't have room in my kitchen!

Can you make this bigger?

I had a question from someone asking if I could make this moon and sun plaque bigger.  I pondered on it for awhile and finally said I thought I could but I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  As you can see, it turned out pretty awesome.

This one is about 12" diameter.  The sculpting was all done by hand.  The "space" is
stamped with stars and shooting stars.  The moon is gun metal green with indigo accents.
I've done enough of these kind of plaques that they come fairly easily.  I know how to  handle the
clay and the finished piece so it doesn't break.

This one, on the other hand, was an exercise in patience.  After figuring out how to get a 17" diameter (I cut a string and tied a marker to it and drew out the circumference on a piece of drywall), I then had to roll out the slab, trim it and do all the stamping and sculpting.  I let it dry for a week under plastic to prevent warping and then uncovered for about 3 weeks.  I slid it onto the kiln shelf and then moved it to the kiln.  It would only fit on the top shelf.  Fired once, then  glazed and then fired again.

So now that it is done, I think I'll keep it.  There wasn't any final commission from the inquirer.  I just wanted to see if it could be done.  I don't think I would take on a commission for a second one.  It was a lot of work and possibility for disaster at every turn was high.  I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility!

It will look good hanging outside.

Clay trip

I just got home from a trip to the city to get more clay.  My husband and I go in the big F250 pick up to get 600 lbs. of clay twice a year.  It's about a 140 mile round trip.  I buy commercially prepared clays, in white, chocolate brown and tan with speckles.  Standard Clay 112, 266, 181, and 378.  That won't really make any sense to anyone but another clay person but those are kinds of stoneware clay I use.  I usually throw in the 2-3 lb lump of clay range for the kinds of things I make.  Sometimes less, sometimes more. I don't try to thrown over 5 lbs.  It really works on the back and shoulders.  When I hand build, I use a slab roller or rolling pin and can handle larger quantities. This 600 lbs will last about 6 months.  

That's including all the scraps I reclaim which will turn into a dark tan with brown streaks.  All the trimmings, throwing mishaps, things that didn't dry properly and cracked.  I just toss it all in a 5 gallon bucket with water and when I have about half the bucket full, I turn it all out onto newspaper to dry out.  As long as it hasn't been fired, it can be recycled into new clay.  I call it my sludge clay.

Here's some work that's almost dry and ready to in the kiln to bisque fire.  At this stage it's called green ware and is very brittle.  Sometimes the ride down to the kiln is, well, not successful.  But mostly everything makes it!

Tea bag spoon rest squares rolled out and stamped

A new "Dream Pot" in the making

Yarn bowls and lidded jars

A new magnolia before firing

Sushi tray

I just sold this sushi tray set on etsy.  I made it by rolling out the brown stoneware with a rolling pin and pressing in a Hosta leaf picked from my garden.  I used a coleus leaf for the little sauce dish.  The white glaze is accented by the turquoise glaze poured on top and the brown of the clay bleeds through as well. I love this set but I'm excited that it will be making its way to someone else to love.